‘Compromise’

Published: Sunday, February 17, 2013 at 9:48 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, February 17, 2013 at 9:48 a.m.

Ines Illgen of Hendersonville enjoyed reading a recent Mountains to Molehills column, and at the top of her list of likes is Carole Repici’s objection to the “consistent Republican bias” finding its way into the column. “Not all of us out here in GOP country, even if we are Republicans, unaffiliated or apolitical, believe the continuing negativity expressed toward President Barack Obama benefits anybody,” says Ms. Illgen. “It’s fine to disagree. Nobody will ever please everybody, and the best all of us can do is to give up a little of our own firmly held beliefs and move closer toward the other side by doing what has become a dirty word — compromise. Let us find, as Ms. Repici so eloquently states, a third way where we find some common ground.” And next in the column was what Ms. Illgen describes as a “forceful comment” by Kevin Guyette, who suggested there is no room in the United States for people who believe President Obama is leading the nation to communism. “That surely will lead to many opposing responses,” figures Ms. Illgen. “Thirdly was a most useful item by Mary Ann Osby about our hardworking local farmers who keep us supplied year-round with wonderful, homegrown produce, eggs and meat. If you haven’t already done so, cut this one out because it is chock-full of valuable information including names, phone numbers, and days and hours of availability. And finally, the column included helpful information about Blue Ridge Community Health Services, which I’ve seen grow from a tiny clinic into the excellent multiservice medical facility it is now. Kudos for a well-rounded, informative column.”

u

FEELING ‘HELPLESS’: Doris Metcalf of Zirconia is hungry for some of that “change” the Washington, D.C., crowd has been promising since President Barack Obama moved into the White House. “It’s what’s ahead of us — more taxes — that bothers me,” she says. “That’s not the kind of change I’m looking for. We need to boot all of them out of office — or worse! But you can bet they’ll keep giving themselves bigger paychecks. That’s the problem I have with them. They just don’t know what it’s like to be poor. You have to have been there to understand and be able to relate to people.”

u

SCARY THIRD WISH: A woman caught her husband cheating on her and divorced him. She went on with her life hating her ex-husband. One day she found a beautiful lamp, rubbed it a little bit, and a genie popped out! The genie said it would grant her three wishes but that with every wish her husband would get the same thing but only double! “I want to be rich!” she said. Her wish was granted, and her husband became twice as rich. Then the woman wished to be beautiful. She became beautiful, and the husband became twice as beautiful. “OK,” the genie cautioned, “this is your last wish, so be careful what you wish for!” The woman put much thought into her next request and said, “I want you to scare me half to death.”

u

ANOTHER DEFINITION: A teacher instructed her students to give her a sentence about a public servant. One young lad wrote, “The fireman came down the ladder pregnant.” The teacher took the lad aside to correct him. “Don’t you know what pregnant means?” she asked. “Sure,” said the young boy confidently. “It means carrying a child.”

u

LAST BUT NOT LEAST: Wanted: A few good people who would be willing to spend a few hours each month advocating for the rights of the elderly who are living in nursing homes in Henderson County. Volunteers would make quarterly visits to these facilities to ensure that the residents’ rights are being followed and honored. Interested persons are encouraged to contact either Kandy Rice at 693-4716 or Larry Kosowsky at 891-8179.

<p>Ines Illgen of Hendersonville enjoyed reading a recent Mountains to Molehills column, and at the top of her list of likes is Carole Repici's objection to the “consistent Republican bias” finding its way into the column. “Not all of us out here in GOP country, even if we are Republicans, unaffiliated or apolitical, believe the continuing negativity expressed toward President Barack Obama benefits anybody,” says Ms. Illgen. “It's fine to disagree. Nobody will ever please everybody, and the best all of us can do is to give up a little of our own firmly held beliefs and move closer toward the other side by doing what has become a dirty word — compromise. Let us find, as Ms. Repici so eloquently states, a third way where we find some common ground.” And next in the column was what Ms. Illgen describes as a “forceful comment” by Kevin Guyette, who suggested there is no room in the United States for people who believe President Obama is leading the nation to communism. “That surely will lead to many opposing responses,” figures Ms. Illgen. “Thirdly was a most useful item by Mary Ann Osby about our hardworking local farmers who keep us supplied year-round with wonderful, homegrown produce, eggs and meat. If you haven't already done so, cut this one out because it is chock-full of valuable information including names, phone numbers, and days and hours of availability. And finally, the column included helpful information about Blue Ridge Community Health Services, which I've seen grow from a tiny clinic into the excellent multiservice medical facility it is now. Kudos for a well-rounded, informative column.” </p><p>u </p><p>FEELING 'HELPLESS': Doris Metcalf of Zirconia is hungry for some of that “change” the Washington, D.C., crowd has been promising since President Barack Obama moved into the White House. “It's what's ahead of us — more taxes — that bothers me,” she says. “That's not the kind of change I'm looking for. We need to boot all of them out of office — or worse! But you can bet they'll keep giving themselves bigger paychecks. That's the problem I have with them. They just don't know what it's like to be poor. You have to have been there to understand and be able to relate to people.” </p><p>u </p><p>SCARY THIRD WISH: A woman caught her husband cheating on her and divorced him. She went on with her life hating her ex-husband. One day she found a beautiful lamp, rubbed it a little bit, and a genie popped out! The genie said it would grant her three wishes but that with every wish her husband would get the same thing but only double! “I want to be rich!” she said. Her wish was granted, and her husband became twice as rich. Then the woman wished to be beautiful. She became beautiful, and the husband became twice as beautiful. “OK,” the genie cautioned, “this is your last wish, so be careful what you wish for!” The woman put much thought into her next request and said, “I want you to scare me half to death.” </p><p>u </p><p>ANOTHER DEFINITION: A teacher instructed her students to give her a sentence about a public servant. One young lad wrote, “The fireman came down the ladder pregnant.” The teacher took the lad aside to correct him. “Don't you know what pregnant means?” she asked. “Sure,” said the young boy confidently. “It means carrying a child.” </p><p>u </p><p>LAST BUT NOT LEAST: Wanted: A few good people who would be willing to spend a few hours each month advocating for the rights of the elderly who are living in nursing homes in Henderson County. Volunteers would make quarterly visits to these facilities to ensure that the residents' rights are being followed and honored. Interested persons are encouraged to contact either Kandy Rice at 693-4716 or Larry Kosowsky at 891-8179. </p><p>Reach Lou Parris at 828-694-7836 or molehills@blueridgenow.com.</p>